Transgenic plants as an alternative source of lignocellulosic-degrading enzymes

Abstract

Transgenic plants which express cellulose-degrading enzymes, methods to make the transgenic plants, and methods to use the cellulose-degrading enzymes produced by the transgenic plants are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A genetically recombinant plant comprising a plant transformed to contain and express one or more exogenous gene sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. NO: 1, SEQ. ID. NO: 2, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       2. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the gene product or products are expressed constituitively. 
     
     
       3. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the gene product or products are expressed stage-specifically. 
     
     
       4. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the gene product or products are expressed tissue-specifically. 
     
     
       5. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 4, wherein the gene product or products are expressed in a plant tissue selected from the group consisting of seeds, fruit, stems, leaves, and tubers. 
     
     
       6. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 4, wherein the plant contains two exogenous gene sequences and wherein their respective gene products are expressed independently of one another. 
     
     
       7. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the gene product or products are expressed in a targeted sub-cellular compartment. 
     
     
       8. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 7, wherein the gene product or products are expressed in a sub-cellular compartment selected from the group consisting of: plastid, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, inclusion body, and vacuole. 
     
     
       9. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 7, wherein the plant contains two exogenous genes and wherein their respective gene products are expressed independently of one another. 
     
     
       10. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the gene product or products are expressed extra-cellularly. 
     
     
       11. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is dicotyledonous. 
     
     
       12. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, wherein the plant is monocotyledonous. 
     
     
       13. The genetically recombinant plant of claim 1, which is alfalfa or tobacco. 
     
     
       14. A method for producing cellulose-degrading enzymes comprising cultivating a genetically recombinant plant according to claim 1. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, further comprising concentrating the cellulose-degrading enzymes. 
     
     
       16. A method for producing cellulose-degrading enzymes comprising cultivating a genetically recombinant plant according to claim 13. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, further comprising concentrating the cellulose-degrading enzymes.